Corn-planter



2 Sheets--SheeiJ 1.

(No Mode1.

H. PRATH-ER.

CORN PLANTBR.

Patented July 8, 1890'.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. FEATHER.

CORN PLANTER Patented July v8, 1890.

w114/veo aan UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN PRATHER, OF JONESVlLLE, INDIANA.

oRN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,619, dated July 8, 1890.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN FEATHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at .I onesville, in the county of Bartholomew and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in corn-planters, for which Letters Patent No. 418,747 were issued to me January 7, 1890.

The object of my present improvement is to provide improved means for raising and lowering the plow-beams on which the seeddropping mechanism is mounted and for simultaneously throwing into and out of gear the seed-dropping mechanism, whereby the working parts are reduced in number and simplied, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. Figure l represents a rear view of my planter, showing the plows in working position. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same, the carrying-wheel being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a similar side elevation showing the plow-beam raised out of' working position.

Ais a wooden frame, which is mounted on an axle or shaft B, having a pair of carryingwheels C C, one of which is secured to the shaft so as to turn the shaft as the wheel moves forward. y

D D are plow-beams hinged to and extending backward from the front beam of the main frame A, and each carrying a plow E for opening the seed-furrow, and a seed-box F, provided with suitable well-known seeddropping mechanism. The seed-dropping mechanism of each of the seed-boxes is actuated by the following means: A sprocketwheel G is mounted on the axle or shaft B, so as to slide longitudinally thereon, and its hub is notched so as to engage a pin h, projecting from the axle in such a manner that the sprocket-wh eel will turn with the axle only when engagedwith the pin. A second sprocketwheel I, having a bevel gear-wheel .I secured thereto, is mounted on a short stud la, mounted on the main frame and forming also one of the hinges for the plow-beam.

Sprocket-wheels G and I are connected by a chain belt L, and bevel gear-wheel J is connected with the seed-dropping mechanism by the shaft m and bevel gear-wheel n, mounted on the plow-beam. Sprocket-wheel G is shifted int-o and ont of engagement with pin 71, by means of a bell-crank lever o, mounted on the main frame and engaging a groove in the hub' of the sprocketwheel. Sprocket-wheel G is held normally in engagement with pin h by means of a iiat spring p, secured at one end to the main frame and with its free end pressing outward against the lower arm of lever o.

The mechanism thus far described is essentially the same as that shown in my former patent, above mentioned. The mechanism therein shown for raising and lowering the plow-beam and for throwing into and out of gear the' actuating mechanism of the seeddropping devices being complicated and not being fully controllable, I have invented the following mechanism for that purpose.

R is a lever, which is pivoted so as to swing in a vertical plane on a standard S, erected on the main frame. The upper end of lever R is arranged within reach of the driver, sittingv in the seat T, and the lower end of the lever is forked to form a hook u, adapted to engage the under edge of the upper arm of lever o and a short arm fv.

W is a short horizontal crank shaft mounted so as to turn in bearings on the main frame and having its crank-arm provided with. an eye a', which embraces the plow-beam. Shaft W is also provided with avertical arm y, which is connected with arm o of lever R by a link e, the arrangement of the parts being such that when the plow-beamis in working position lever R is in the raised position shown in Fig. 1. A spring-catch t, erected on the main frame, is arranged to hook over the upper edge of lever R and hold it in position when depressed.

In operation, when the plow is in working position lever R is raised, sprocket-wheel G is engaged with the pin h on the axle, and the seed-dropping mechanism is actuated as before described., VhenleverR is depressed so as to engage the catch t, arm y of shaft W is drawn forward, thus partially rotating the shaft and raising the free end of the plow- 'beam and the plow. At the same time hook IOO thus drawing the lower end of the levero and sprocket-wheel Gr Vaway from pin h and stopping the seed-dropping mechanism. By this construction only a few parts are required as compared with my former device, and the plow-beam is under more complete control of the operator.

I claim as my invention-- l.y In a corn-planter, the combination, with the main frame and the plow-beam hinged thereto, of the crank-shaft WV, mounted in bearings on the main frame, having its cranked end attached to the plow-beam and provided with arm ly, lever R, pivoted to the main frame, and link z, all arranged to cooperate in the manner described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination, with the main frame, the axle having carryingwheels secured thereto and supporting the main frame, the sprocket-wheel mounted Vloosely on the axle and adaptedlto engage a projection on the axle, so as to revolve therewith, the spring arranged to hold the sprocket-wheel normally in engagement with the axle, the plow-beam carrying the seed-dropping mechanism, and intermediate mechanism connecting the seed-dropping mechanism and the sprocket-wheel, of the crank-shaft W, having arm y, and eonnected'at its cranked end withthe plow-beam, bell-crank lever o, mounted on the main frame and engaging the sprocket-wheel, lever R, also pivoted to the main frame and provided at its Vlower end with hook u and arm v, and link z, all arranged to co-operate as specified, whereby the plowbeam` is raised and the sprocket-wheel is simultaneously disengaged fromthe axle, as and for the purpose set forth.

HERMAN PRATHE R.

Witnesses: y

W. V. MYRES, H.4 A. TRITT. 

